Each Thursday, the Batter’s Box blog will feature a Connecticut native, who is now playing in college.

Brad Runowicz, Trinity freshman

High school: Cheshire 2009

Position: 1B/OF

Avg.: .343

Runs: 16

HR: 4

RBI: 20

Slg%: .657

For more on Runowicz, click here.

Uncertainties, inexperience and graduation losses make it tough to gauge teams early in the season. Not knowing exactly what to expect at first, Cheshire coach Bill Mrowka has gradually gotten a feel for the Rams and he says it looks to be a promising season.

Cheshire opened the year winning five straight before falling 7-4 Monday to Amity.

“We’re hitting very well and scoring runs,” Mrowka said. “We’ve been able to swing it and I feel confident with the whole lineup.”

The Rams put up 49 runs during their 5-0 start.

Cheshire may have lost some key pieces (Brad Runowicz, Steve Howard and Dave Tammaro) to a lineup that helped the Rams reach the Southern Connecticut Conference playoff semifinals in 2009, but Mrowka said this year’s version is deeper.

So far, the offense has supplied timely hits (they made the most of seven hits in a 5-0 win over Xavier). It has led Cheshire to come from behind (the Rams scored 10 late runs in a 12-7 win over Hand) and also erupt (14 runs against East Haven and 16 runs against Hamden less than 24 hours later).

And when the offense has sputtered, pitcher Ryan Fowler picked up Cheshire.
Fowler allowed just four hits and struck out six in a 2-1 win over Law.

“Did I think we’d be 5-0, probably not ...,” Mrowka said. “I like this team. We have a good staff, a strong lineup, a good mix.”

Click here to read about Cheshire's win over Law.